Sabrina Fairchild: You know, you are not exactly what people say you are.Linus Larrabee: Oh yeah? [beat] What do they say I am?Sabrina Fairchild: Oh, you know.Linus Larrabee: No.Sabrina Fairchild: Well. . .that you’re the world’s only living heart donor.Linus Larrabee: Oh. That.Sabrina Fairchild: And. . .how does this one go? Um, “He thinks that morals are paintings on walls and scruples are money in Russia.”Linus Larrabee: Well, that’s droll.Sabrina Fairchild: And then there’s my favorite. . .Linus Larrabee: No, no, no. I get the picture.

The first time I saw this film I was completely blown away. It’s eerie how a satirical film about television made 35 years ago can be so accurate within today’s world of television. I rewatched it recently and am just as in awe of it as ever. Network was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning four: Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Original Screenplay (won), Best Supporting Actor Ned Beatty, Best Supporting Actress Beatrice Straight (won), Best Actress Faye Dunaway (won), Best Actor William Holden, Best Actor Peter Finch (won), Best Director and Best Picture. The other films nominated for Best Picture that year were All The President’s Men, Bound For Glory, Taxi Driver and winner Rocky.

Staff Sgt. William James: You love playing with that. You love playing with all your stuffed animals. You love your mommy, your daddy, your nature pajamas. You love everything, don’t you? [beat] Yeah. But you know what, buddy? As you get older, some of the things that you love might not seem so special anymore, you know. Like your jack-in-the-box. Maybe you realize it’s just a piece of tin and a stuffed animal. But the older you get, the fewer things you really love. And by the time you get to my age, maybe it’s only one or two things. [beat] With me I think it’s one.

[Buck Owens’s “Act Naturally” plays in the background]Alan Bosley: This one. Yessss. I mean, I don’t even have to ask, but I will. What do you think of this one?Blue Stanton: Does the term “cruel and unusual punishment” mean anything to you?